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In Focus: Unrest in Egypt

Nicole GoebelJuly 15, 2013

Mohammed Morsi's ousting by the military was welcomed by most, but Egypt's future is uncertain. The Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters are at loggerheads with those supporting the army.

https://p.dw.com/p/192QN
An Egyptian flag stained with blood flutters over members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi as they shout slogans during a protest outside Raba El-Adwyia mosque in Cairo July 8, 2013, following clashes in front of the Republican Guard headquarters. At least 51 people were killed on Monday when demonstrators enraged by the military overthrow of Egypt's elected Islamist president said the army opened fire during morning prayers outside the Cairo barracks where Mursi is believed to be held. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Image: Reuters

The army has played a vital role in Egypt since it overthrew King Farouk in 1952. It also helped topple Hosni Mubarak in 2011 at the height of the Arab Spring uprisings.

Since they ousted Morsi on Wednesday evening, the armed forces have arrested the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood as part of a crackdown against Egypt's Islamist movement.

Despite its assurances that a new government will include Islamic as well as other parties, many Egyptians are torn between support for an army that opposes Islamist rule and mistrust of its show of force.

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Reports & Analysis

Schützenpanzern bei einer Demonstration vor dem Präsidentenpalastmit; Kairo; 12.7.13 zugeliefert von: Matthias Sailer copyright: DW/Matthias Sailer

Islamists under pressure

Egypt's military subjects Muslim Brotherhood supporters to mass detentions.
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Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi hold a banner with his picture as they gather at the Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo July 12, 2013. Tens of thousands of Egyptians packed into squares and marched along streets in Cairo on Friday to protest against the military overthrow of Islamist President Mursi, and the United States called for the first time for him to be freed. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - eingestellt von gri

Cairo demonstrations

Protests continue from both non-Islamists and from Morsi supporters - but the tone is changing.
July 13, 2013
Egyptian photographers holding up their cameras

Media crackdown

Domestic and foreign media have come under attack in Egypt.
July 12, 2013
Egyptians wave the national flag AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)

Egypt's challenges

The conflict between supporters of the Mubarak regime and liberal revolutionaries remains a problem.
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Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi EPA/KHALED ELFIQI

Egyptian chaos

Egypt is in a state of chaos, coupled with the threat of revenge by the Muslim Brotherhood.
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A religious leader addresses the crowd Photo: DW/Matthias Sailer

More intransigent

Egypt's Islamists are adopting a tone which is far more extremist than it was last week.
July 8, 2013
Morsi supporters rally near where over 50 were purported to have been killed by members of the Egyptian military (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

What next in Egypt?

The West is diverging thus far in its response to the overthrow of Egypt's president.
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Martin Lessenthin (photo: picture alliance/Eventpress)

Support for Egypt?

Political sides need to cooperate to re-establish peace, says human rights expert Martin Lessenthin.
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Women in headscarves holding red and black banners saying "The Egyptian people reject the military putsch" Foto: Ole Spata/dpa

Trouble in Cairo

Escalating violence in Cairo is worrying both German politicians and Egyptians in Berlin.
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Gloomy prospects

Morsi's removal has further polarized Egypt. Now all sides must be brought in to the transition.
July 8, 2013
"Facebook" spraypainted next to Arabic word on wall in Cairo. (Copyright: imago/GranAngular)

Social media in Egypt

The military and Muslim Brotherhood are both using social media to spread their version of the truth
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Traders work at the Egyptian stock exchange building in central Cairo on June 25, 2012, a day after Islamist Mohamed Morsi was elected the country's first civilian president. The Egyptian press hailed the election of a civilian president, with some newspapers saying that the "revolution" that toppled Hosni Mubarak had defeated the holdovers of the old regime. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

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